Texas Truck Inspections Roiling US-Mexico Trade

Massive delays and a drop in traffic at the U.S.-Mexico border caused by secondary Texas state inspections have drawn fire from CBP, the trade community and even the White House.

The delays result only from “additional and unnecessary inspections” being conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety on the orders of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, and are unrelated to CBP screening activities, CBP said in a fact sheet released April 12. “Local trade associations, officials, and businesses are requesting the Texas state government discontinue their additional border truck inspection process because it is not necessary to protect the safety and security of Texas communities and is resulting in significant impacts to local supply chains that will impact consumers and businesses nationally,” CBP said.

The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America said that problems from Texas truck inspections have expanded beyond Laredo's Solidarity Bridge and the Port of Hidalgo/Pharr to also impact the Port of Progreso.

"Both Mexican and U.S. carriers continue to seek meetings with representatives from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Governor Abbott's office to voice their concerns and seek a reduction in the safety inspections to a reasonable number," the NCBFAA wrote in an alert April 13. Mexican truckers have at times blocked southbound traffic because of their frustration that they have to wait for many hours to go north because of delays due to state inspections that are following federal border clearance policies. NCBFAA said additional state inspections are expected at Eagle Pass, too.

Abbott has said he is inspecting all commercial vehicles because federal officials were not stopping drug smuggling and smuggling of migrants (see 2204110040).

Laredo Assistant Port Director Javier Vasquez had set up a separate primary lane at the World Trade Bridge for diverted traffic from the Colombia bridge, NCBFAA said. As of noon, Texas time, there were three-hour delays at the Colombia bridge and an hour delay for general cargo traffic on the World Trade Bridge.

NCBFAA said Brownsville, Rio Grande, Roma, Del Rio and Eagle Pass are helping with diverted commercial shipments, and CBP said they will stay open later than usual if commercial traffic warrants it.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said April 13, "[Texas] Governor Abbott’s unnecessary and redundant inspections of trucks transiting ports of entry between Texas and Mexico are causing significant disruptions to the food and automobile supply chains, delaying manufacturing, impacting jobs, and raising prices for families in Texas and across the country. Local businesses and trade associations are calling on Governor Abbott to reverse this decision because trucks are facing lengthy delays exceeding 5 hours at some border crossings and commercial traffic has dropped by as much as 60 percent. The continuous flow of legitimate trade and travel and CBP’s ability to do its job should not be obstructed. Governor Abbott’s actions are impacting people’s jobs, and the livelihoods of hard-working American families."